If you’re planning a trip to Rome with kids, there are some great books to introduce your children to the country and its history – including gladiators, emperors and myths for all ages among my pick of the best kids’ books about Rome.
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Whether you’re planning a family city break in Rome and want to bring the ancient sites alive, are looking for a guidebook to the city for kids or just want a great story for kids who’ve fallen in love with all things Roman, there’s something to tempt in my list of the best books about Rome for kids.
You’ll find picture and sticker books for younger kids, as well as fiction for teens, tales of Roman Britain and plenty of horrible history – read on for my complete list of the best kids books on Rome.
Books about Rome for toddlers and preschoolers
You’re never too young for a bit of Roman history, with these fun books for preschoolers.
Have you heard of the Romans?: History for Kids
This lovely little picture book offers a fun and simple introduction to Ancient Rome for younger children. With its colourful illustrations and short rhyming one-liners, it’s easy for little ones to follow along.
The picture book is aimed at children aged 3-6, but the vibrant full-page artwork also makes it a great book to read to toddlers.
British Museum 101 Stickers! Ancient Rome
Curated by the British Museum, this 101 Stickers book features 11 lively scenes from Ancient Rome that kids can decorate themselves with a selection of colourful stickers.
Aimed at ages 3-5, the book lets kids fill the Pantheon with statues, add horses to a Roman chariot race, uncover amazing artefacts at an archaeological dig, and even curate their own museum display.
Kids’ books about Rome
Once your kids start reading, there are some great books to introduce them to Roman history and some of the most colourful tales of life in ancient Rome and across the Roman Empire.
Romans Sticker Book (Usborne Sticker Books)
Another great sticker book for slightly older children, Usborne’s Romans Sticker Book is a fun and engaging way to teach little ones about the lives, beliefs, and customs of people who lived in Ancient Rome.
The book has many colourful scenes of daily life in Ancient Rome, from gladiator fights in the Colosseum to extravagant banquets, complete with over 300 stickers so that kids can help bring the scenes to life.
See Inside Ancient Rome (Usborne Flap Books)
This lift-the-flap book is packed with colourful illustrations of Ancient Rome and plenty of short digestible stories and facts aimed at younger children.
The interactive book offers a great introduction to Roman life and covers everything from gladiator fights and mighty battles to scenes of everyday life in Roman homes.
The Story of Rome (Usborne Young Readers)
The Story of Rome is part of the Usborne Young Reading series and provides a simple introduction to the history of Rome for primary school aged children – I bought it for my daughter just before our trip to Rome and it was perfect to get her excited and to refer back to.
It uses bright illustrations and simple text to tell the story of Rome, from its founding to its fall, starting with the legend of brothers Romulus and Remus. Great if your kids want to learn more about Roman history as well as the usual highlights of gladiators and chariots.
Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans!
Self-described as “Madagascar meets Gladiator,” Julius Zebra is a silly and entertaining story of a group of African animals that end up in Rome training to become Roman gladiators.
As well as its witty (and very British) humour, Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans features plenty of interesting historical facts about Ancient Rome. There’s even a glossary of Roman terms at the back and a lesson on how to count in Roman numerals.
Perfect for kids who’d turn their noses up at the average history book.
Diary of Dorkius Maximus
Part of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, this humorous book tells the story of a geeky young boy in Ancient Rome named Dorkius who longs to become a mighty Roman gladiator – despite heroism not coming particularly naturally to him.
Diary of Dorkius Maximus teaches kids about life in Ancient Rome in a funny yet educational way, including the slightly more gruesome side of Roman life.
Another great option for kids who don’t enjoy traditional history books, especially if they’re already Wimpy Kid fans.
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Diary Of Dorkius Maximus
- Collins, Tim (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages – 02/07/2013 (Publication Date) – Buster Books (Publisher)
Romans on the Rampage
A Roman adventure that’s more about comedy than drama, this fun story from Jeremy Strong tells the tale of Roman boy Perilus, who loves chariot racing, even if the closest he gets to the Circus Maximum is being pulled around by the family goat.
That is, until the day when his charioteer hero goes missing on the day of the big race. Aimed at kids aged 7-9, Romans on the Rampage is part of a two-book series so there’s plenty to get your teeth into – and might just be the funniest way to get that age group learning some Latin.
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Romans on the Rampage
- Strong, Jeremy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages – 01/01/2015 (Publication Date) – Puffin (Publisher)
Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans
When it comes to Horrible Histories, you don’t get much more horrible than Ancient Rome – and you can always rely on the Terry Deary series for an entertainingly gruesome look at the past, with my daughter devouring pretty much the entire set over the years.
Ruthless Romans is a hilarious and engaging introduction to Roman history for kids, using the brand’s trademark witty humour. The book is packed with gruesome tales, gory facts, and comical illustrations, covering all aspects of life in Ancient Rome.
You can also check out the new updated newspaper version, Rotten Romans, which has plenty more horrible historical headlines.
You Wouldn’t Want To Be…!
The ‘You Wouldn’t Want to Be…’ series, helps bring several aspects of Roman life to life for younger readers with its cartoon-style illustrations and engaging first-hand narration.
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Roman Gladiator! looks at the brutal and thrilling world of Roman gladiators, from the harsh training to the deadly battles.
Meanwhile, You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Roman Soldier! lets kids step into the sandals of some Roman soldiers and imagine the challenges, dangers, and hardships that those in the Roman army faced.
Find Tom in Time: Ancient Rome
This fun search-and-find puzzle book (think a twist on Where’s Wally) challenges kids to find Tom and his naughty cat Digby, as well as other historical objects, across busy scenes from Ancient Rome.
Designed in collaboration with the British Museum, the interactive book also features plenty of interacting trivia and facts about the daily life of Ancient Romans.
So You Think You’ve Got It Bad: A Kid’s Life In Ancient Rome
Another of my daughter’s own favourites, So You Think You’ve Got It Bad provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of ancient Romans by comparing it to modern-day life through the eyes of a child.
Through funny stories and relatable scenarios, the book helps kids imagine what the lives of their peers were like thousands of years ago. It covers a huge range of topics, from family life and schooling to food, clothing, playtime, and more.
Everything: Roman in Britain
If your kids want facts, more facts and extra facts about Rome, this is the book for them. Everything: Roman in Britain does what it says on the tin, with pictures, maps and information.
As well as background on the powerful emperors and their advancing armies, you can discover more about the buildings they created.
While the focus is on the might of Rome in Britain rather than Italy, there’s still plenty of history to devour and it’s a fun option for kids to see how the might of Rome affected their own country.
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Everything: Romans in Britain: March onwards for facts, photos and fun! (National Geographic Kids)
- Fact-packed topic books for primary school children
- Ideal for homework, topic work, KS2 school projects and anyone who is simply curious about history!
- Filled with hundreds of interesting facts, colourful pictures, maps, diagrams and an interactive glossary
- Ideal for ages 7-11
- Pack contains: Everything Stone Age to Iron Age, Everything Anglo-Saxons, Everything Romans in Britain, and Everything World War II
Usborne Visitor’s Guide to Ancient Rome
When is a guidebook not a guidebook? When it’s the Usborne Visitor’s Guide to Ancient Rome. This tongue-in-cheek guide covers all aspects of Roman life, from what they ate to a guide to Roman gods.
You can even check out their tips on the best villas and markets to plan your own virtual trip to ancient Rome, plus there are cartoons and easy-to-read factboxes which make it fun for kids.
Rome and Romans: Time Traveller
Another great book from Usborne, Rome and Romans: Time Traveller is better for slightly younger kids than the Visitor’s Guide to Ancient Rome, and the perfect way to get a taste of what life was like (or as close as you can get without actual time travel).
Following the adventures of a wealthy Roman Petronius, and his family, you’ll do everything from visit the baths to watch gladiators fighting and even march into battle with the Roman army along the way – packed with facts and fun cartoons, it’s both easy reading but still packed with history.
Rome and Romans (Time Traveller)
- Amery, Heather (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 03/01/2000 (Publication Date) – Usborne Publishing Ltd (Publisher)
Books about Rome for tweens and teens
If you want something more than books on history (however entertaining), there are also some really fun fiction books for older kids.
The Roman Mysteries Series
Caroline Lawrence’s exciting detective series follows Flavia Gemina, a curious young girl who, along with her three friends, solves mysteries and crimes in Ancient Rome. There’s a fantastic mix between the thrilling fictional plots and plenty of accurate historical details.
With 17 books in the original series, several “mini-mysteries”, and a television adaption, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained. Recommended for ages 9-14.
The Roman Mysteries
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Lawrence, Caroline (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Roman Quests: Escape from Rome
If your kids loved The Roman Mysteries, don’t miss Caroline Lawrence’s sequel series, The Roman Quests.
This 4 book series is set a few years after the end of the last books and follows a new group of teenage siblings who must flee Rome to escape the evil Emperor Domitian. The teens head on a dangerous adventure, facing all sorts of unsavoury characters, to find safety in Roman Britain.
Roman invasion: My story
Another great story if your kids want to learn more about Roman life in Britain, Roman Invasion follows the story of Bran, a prince of the Carvetii tribe.
Captured by the Romans in 84CE by a legion of soldiers, as a hostage to ensure the legions safety, there’s plenty of drama to keep kids reading. Ideal for age 7-8+.
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Roman Invasion: 1 (My Story)
- Eldridge, Jim (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages – 03/04/2021 (Publication Date) – Scholastic (Publisher)
Circus Maximus: Race to the Death – a Roman Adventure
You don’t always get female heroines in stories about the Romans, so Circus Maximus: Race to the Death is a fun option for girls in particular, following the adventures of 12-yuear-old Dido who dreams of becoming the first female charioteer at the Circus Maximus.
With girls forbidden, it seems that all she can do is help her father, the trainer of Rome’s most popular team… until his murder turns her life upside down.
With horses galore, and danger looming from the emperor Caligula, this is a page turner to transport all readers to Rome, both good and bad. There are four books in the series as well.
Circus Maximus
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Gray, Annelise (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Guides to Rome for kids
For more practical tips if you’re planning a family city break in Rome, these guide books on Rome for kids are a great way to include some child-friendly extras.
Lonely Planet Kids: Rome City Trails
Moving away from Ancient Rome (albeit very briefly), Rome City Trails is a fantastic kid-friendly travel guide to Rome by Lonely Planet Kids.
The book features numerous themed trails around the Italian city, covering everything from history and culture to food and nature. There are many fun hidden gems to explore, as well as plenty of interesting facts and stories designed for kids aged 9-12.
We used it on our trip to Rome which helped us find a fancy chocolate shop and a few other quirky highlights among the big sights.
Kids’ Travel Guide Rome
Better suited for a slightly younger audience than Lonely Planet City Trails, this fun kid-friendly guidebook lets children become the family tour guide on your trip to Rome.
The book is packed with interesting facts about Rome’s history and culture, illustrated maps, and dedicated guides to all of the city’s top attractions.
It also includes plenty of interactive activities, such as quizzes, colouring pages, and even space to keep a diary, so it’s perfect for keeping little ones entertained throughout your entire trip.
If you want a more traditional travel guide aimed at families, the DK Eyewitness Family Guide: Rome has cartoons, quizzes and games alongside practical tips like where to find playgrounds and toilets, plus the usual information for visitors to Rome.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own (and my daughter’s) based on kids books about Rome which we’ve bought, read, used and enjoyed ourselves
Main image Depositphotos
